In 2023, the average profile of missing persons is characterized by being male, of Spanish nationality, an adult, and leaving without giving an explanation voluntarily. The National Center for Missing Persons has identified a common pattern in cases of disappearance from the previous year, which is different from the year before where the most common case was a minor Spanish male. The number of missing persons has decreased by 6.9% from the previous year, with 95% of cases being resolved. In the past year, 30% of the 15,126 people who went missing without apparent cause had gone missing on more than one occasion, earning the nickname “repeat missing.” On average, there were 3.2 disappearances per person in these cases. Over 66% of disappearances are resolved within the first seven days, with 61.5% of cases involving male missing persons. The majority of cases reported were voluntary disappearances, with only 5% being involuntary and 0.4% as a result of forced disappearance. The provinces with the highest number of reports were Madrid (14%), Barcelona (12%), and Las Palmas (7%). Among the missing, 63% were Spanish citizens, with Moroccan nationals comprising 11.3% of cases. At the end of 2023, there were still 6,001 active missing persons reports.
At a recent event at the National Center for Missing Persons, a group of families of missing persons met with the Minister of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, to express their concerns and demands. They called for greater understanding and attention from authorities, unified police search protocols, and assistance during the difficult early hours of a disappearance or when officially registering their loved ones as deceased. The Minister announced plans to provide a comprehensive information package to families of missing persons, which includes access to free psychological support services provided by professionals contracted by the Ministry of Interior. The government is in the process of finalizing an agreement to provide these services to all families in need. The event also paid tribute to InterSOS, an association founded in 1998 that recently ceased operations. The founders, Luisa Vera and Juan Bergua, received recognition for their efforts in the search for their missing daughter, Cristina, who disappeared in 1997.
In the past year, the National Center for Missing Persons implemented a new alert system for missing persons, specifically targeting vulnerable groups such as minors and the elderly. These alerts, known as PAV (Vulnerable Alert Publication), are activated when a person is in serious danger and are disseminated through digital advertising billboards provided by five outdoor advertising companies. Since the launch of the system in March 2023, it has successfully located three missing persons unharmed, while two were found deceased, and one search is still ongoing. Collaborating with law enforcement, the center has also helped identify 294 deceased individuals, providing closure for families of missing persons.
Overall, the data from the National Center for Missing Persons paints a picture of the common characteristics and trends among missing persons in 2023. While there has been a decrease in the number of missing persons compared to the previous year, the majority of cases involve voluntary disappearances. Families of missing persons continue to push for improved support and unified search protocols from authorities, seeking closure for their loved ones. The introduction of the PAV alert system has proven to be effective in locating missing individuals at risk, highlighting the importance of collaboration between various stakeholders in the search for missing persons. Additionally, the ongoing efforts to provide psychological support to families of missing persons demonstrate a commitment to addressing the emotional impact of disappearances on loved ones.
